THE CRESTED GREBE 59 



The nest of the water-hen is built among sedges and reeds at the 

 waterside, though we have known the nest made on a low bush 

 by an ornamental lake, and contains from five to eight or nine 

 eggs, of a creamy-yellow spotted with dark brown. The young 

 when hatched look like round tufts of black down, and have con- 

 spicuous orange-coloured bills. They swim and dive well, 

 albeit they sometimes fall a prey to the pike. The water-hen 

 feeds upon worms, slugs, small mollusca, beetles, grasshoppers, and 

 other insects, seeds, grasses, and water-cresses, hence not tolerated 

 in water-cress beds. 



The COOT (Fulica atra), of the same natural order as the water- 

 hen, is of a dark slate colour, but the frontal plate is white, and there 

 is also a narrow strip of white across the wings. The nest is usually 

 at or near the water's edge, consisting of a huge mass of flags, reeds 

 and grass, and is sometimes located in the water, being sup- 

 ported by sedges, etc. The eggs, from eight to fifteen in number, 

 are of a greyish-brown colour with spots of a darker brown. The 

 young when hatched are covered with a thick down, and they 

 take to the water very soon. In the breeding season coots are 

 found in pairs, but in winter these birds assemble in great numbers 

 on the banks of rivers, lakes and in marshes. As they see very well 

 during the night, it is then they seek for food, and sometimes may 

 be seen flying from one pond to another. The food consists of 

 worms, slugs, small mollusca, grasshoppers and aquatic insects, 

 seeds, grasses, and watercress, with, some say, fish. 



The LITTLE GREBE or DABCHICK (Podiceps ftuviatilis or minor), Fig 

 41, left hand, included in the family Colymbidae or Divers and sub- 

 family Podicepinae, has the head, back of the neck and upper surface 

 of the body very dark brown, almost black ; cheeks, sides, and upper 

 front part of the neck reddish chestnut ; under-surface dull greyish 

 white. Its length is 9^ in. It frequents rushy or reedy lakes 

 or streams, and in winter resorts to the mouth of rivers and bays. 

 It builds a large flat nest of aquatic plants, and lays four to six white 

 eggs, which soon become stained with greenish-yellow and brown. 

 The food consists of small fishes, water-insects, shrimps, fish-fry, 

 and vegetable substance. 



The CRESTED GREBE (Podiceps cristatus) is found in some of the 

 fens of England and also inhabits parts of Scotland and Ireland. 

 It is less common in England than the little grebe. The length 

 of the bird is 21 to 22 in., and the crest feathers and top of the 

 head are dark brown ; cheeks, white ; ear-tufts, reddish-chestnut, 

 becoming dark chestnut at the ends. The skin of this grebe is 

 made into muffs and trimmings for ladies' dress. The nest is built 

 of decayed Water plants almost level with the water, and is generally 

 wet. The eggs are white and usually four in number. The old 

 birds in case of danger take their young under their wings and dive 

 below the water. The food of the crested grebe is similar to that 



